War on the Rocks: Submission Guidelines

About War on the Rocks

War on the Rocks is a U.S.-based publication on defense, national security, and military strategy, known for analysis written by and for practitioners.

Topics they accept

War on the Rocks accepts external contributions on defense and national security. If your piece sits at the edge of these areas, frame the pitch around the overlap rather than the exception — editors commission what they can place in an existing coverage line.

Formats

The outlet primarily publishes analysis and op-eds. Match the format to the argument: a single sharp claim belongs in the shortest format the outlet runs, while a piece that needs evidence laid out in sequence belongs in the longer one.

Length requirements

Typical length: 1,000-2,000 words. Treat this as the range editors expect to edit, not a hard ceiling. If your draft runs long, cut background before you cut evidence.

Response time

Reported response time: about 2 weeks. Response windows are typical ranges reported by contributors, not guarantees. If the window passes, one short follow-up note is professional; more than one is pushy.

What editors look for

• Lead with the policy or strategy argument in the first two paragraphs, before any operational background.
• Evidence over adjectives: name the program, the budget line, or the date instead of writing "a dangerous escalation".
• Practitioner voice matters here — write from what you have done or directly observed, not from a survey of the literature.

How to submit

Submission routes change from time to time, so always start from the outlet's own website: look for a "Submissions", "Write for us", or "Guidelines" page and follow the current instructions there. Read three or four recent pieces in your topic area before you draft, so tone, depth, and paragraph style match the house.

Looking for a home for tech-policy commentary? Strategic Insight Institute is currently accepting pitches — see the submission guidelines.